crane

1 of 2

noun

1
: any of a family (Gruidae of the order Gruiformes) of tall wading birds superficially resembling the herons but structurally more nearly related to the rails
2
: any of several herons
3
: an often horizontal projection swinging about a vertical axis: such as
a
: a machine for raising, shifting, and lowering heavy weights by means of a projecting swinging arm or with the hoisting apparatus supported on an overhead track
b
: an iron arm in a fireplace for supporting kettles
c
: a boom for holding a movie or television camera

Illustration of crane

Illustration of crane
  • crane 1

crane

2 of 2

verb

craned; craning

transitive verb

1
: to raise or lift by or as if by a crane
2
: to stretch toward an object of attention
craning her neck to get a better view

intransitive verb

1
: to stretch one's neck toward an object of attention
I craned out of the window of my compartmentWebb Waldron
2

Examples of crane in a Sentence

Verb We craned our necks toward the stage. craned her head to see the roof
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
When a yellow crane appears, memory and reality blur — guiding his spirit home in a final goodbye seen only by his granddaughter. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025 Photos released this week by Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard show cranes, steel framing, and concrete work underway on the massive Dry Dock 5. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
All craned to see, Jean and Wole from above, Kelly on shore below. David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025 The cable provides both power and access to a data network, while also allowing heavy trash to be craned out of the water and secured aboard a support vessel for responsible disposal. New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crane

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cran, from Old English; akin to Old High German krano crane, Greek geranos, Latin grus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1570, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crane was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crane. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

crane

1 of 2 noun
1
: any of a family of tall wading birds related to the rails
2
: any of several herons
3
a
: a machine with a swinging arm for lifting and carrying heavy weights
b
: a mechanical arm that swings freely from a center and is used to support or carry a weight

crane

2 of 2 verb
craned; craning
1
: to raise or lift by or as if by a crane
2
: to stretch out one's neck to see better

Biographical Definition

Crane 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

(Harold) Hart 1899–1932 American poet

Crane

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Stephen 1871–1900 American writer

Crane

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Walter 1845–1915 English artist

More from Merriam-Webster on crane

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